​Washington, DC Meetings

When issues within the POW/MIA mission move forward, it is because members of Congress and supporting nongovernmental organizations make the issues their own. This support has led to breakthroughs that include the first direct negotiations between a family organization (the Coalition) and the North Korean government, declassification legislation, increased identifications, and the installation then reorganization of the government’s POW/MIA agency.

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Washington Meetings January 31-February 2, 2017 Report

The Coalition leadership made its initial 2017 trip to Washington. We met with Congressional offices, the State Department, and nongovernmental organizations within the extended POW/MIA community to discuss Korean and Cold War POW/MIA issues. This trip was particularly important because the 115th Congress has just convened and a new administration has taken office.

We’d like to acknowledge those of you who made contributions to support the trip, and hope that you feel a part of all that was, and will be, accomplished. For those of you, who would still like to donate, please do so through the not so subtle green DONATE button on this page. Thank you!

The Meetings

There are only so many issues that can effectively be discussed in a 20-30 minute meeting. The two issues we focused on this time around were declassification legislation (affecting all conflicts) and returning unearthed U.S. Korean War remains of missing loved ones North Korea has gathered over the years.

A happy discovery was that the Bring Our Heroes Home Act has been reintroduced to this Congress by Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada. The BOHHA, newly named S. 120, was a collaboration between former Sen. Kelly Ayotte’s office and the Coalition. The bill will force the release of long held POW debriefings and intel reports. These records may not only fill in the stories of some missing men, but also reveal critical information that can be used to identify remains currently on U.S. soil. The legislation is still in the Homeland Security Governmental Affairs committee, where it was first introduced last year.

We met with Senator Heller’s staff and discussed directions to take with the new campaign. We also sat with Ohio Rep. Mike Turner’s staff to discuss when the bill reaches the House side. Staff members in all meetings asked in-depth questions about the legislation and offered insights on what needs to be done to move it through committee and onto the Senate floor for a vote.

Followup

We will be reaching out to Senate offices with further information and updated progress on the bill, with the goal of enlisting them as cosponsors. We are learning that Member offices take the responsibility quite seriously. A lot more is involved than simply signing on.

Support from the missing men’s families and POW/MIA supporting organizations can be deciding factors. Please reach out to your Senators; tell them about the bill (S.120, www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/120) and let them know how important it is to you that he/she becomes a cosponsor. We will also be working with House offices to be ready for when the bill passes the Senate.

The Return of U.S. Korean War Remains Unearthed in North Korea

Last September, the Coalition traveled to North Korea with the Richardson Center for Global Engagement to meet with the DPRK’s Vice Foreign Minister. A primary focus of discussion was the return of U.S. Korean War remains unearthed over the years during North Korea’s agricultural and construction projects. There were signs of cooperation. The presence of a new U.S. administration in the picture brings hope that these discussions will lead to a path bringing these men’s remains home.

Insights on how this might be done were discussed with Senate offices and during a meeting with State Department officials. Several Senate offices suggested that members of the Foreign Relations committee write letters to Secretary of State Tillerson in support.

Followup

We will reach out to all the Senate offices of Foreign Relations and Armed Services committee members, requesting that they write those letters of support. We are also working with the State Department’s Special Representative for North Korea Policy, along with our standing relationships with the Richardson Center for Global Engagement and other NGOs on ways to get the return of these remains of missing loved ones done.

Nongovernmental Organizations Conference

NGOs are playing an increased role in our efforts to learn what happened to the missing men. The American Friends Service Committee organized a gathering of like-minded organizations to exchange ideas on how to improve relations between the U.S. and North Korean governments. The humanitarian mission to return U.S. Korean War remains can play a prominent role.

FollowupThis conference marked the beginning of organizations working together on compatible goals, the return of U.S. Korean War remains among them, to open engagement between the U.S. and the DPRK. The undertaking will explore new directions in the coming months. There will be more to share on this.

Networks

As our relationships develop and broaden with Congressional offices, government agencies, and NGOs, we find ourselves working within a growing network of well-positioned people dedicated to the mission of learning what happened to the missing men. Our loved ones are on their minds and in their hearts. We are not alone, and we owe these colleagues a great deal of thanks.

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The Coalition met with the following Congressional offices during our brief visit. They are members of committees critical to moving the POW/MIA mission forward. Please contact the offices that represent you. Acknowledge these meetings, and share your hope there will be continuing support for the mission ahead.